FierceHealthcareFierceHealthITFierceHealthFinanceFierceEMRHospital ImpactFierceMobileHealthcare   FiercePharma

AMA demands retail clinic regs, backs off ban

Tools
Tags
investigations
American Medical Association (AMA)
nurse practitioners
pharmacies
CVS
clinicians
Retail Clinics

While they backed off from demanding an all-out ban on retail clinics, delegates at the AMA annual House of Delegates meeting agreed to ask state and federal agencies to investigate them.

While several state medical societies already are pushing for retail clinic regulations, such initiatives are now an official part of AMA's national policy. The AMA contends retail clinics may not be providing adequate care, and may face conflicts of interests between their clinicians and the pharmacies run by the retailers where they're located.

Critics, including, of course, the retail clinic operators themselves, say the AMA simply is protecting its turf. They argue such investigations will slow clinic growth, nipping in the bud a promising model which can increase access to affordable healthcare. Also, retail clinic operators bristle at the notion they're providing questionable care; they contend nurse practitioners abide by their limits and work closely with physicians and hospitals.

To find out more about this dispute:
- read this Chicago Tribune article

ALSO: The AMA delegates also proved very skeptical about emerging pay-for-performance schemes. Article

Related Articles:
MA doctors protest CVS retail clinic expansion. Report
Doctors push law regulating retail clinics. Report
Retail clinics: thousands on the way? Analysis

Bookmark and Share
Get Your FREE FierceHealthcare Email Newsletter:
Be the first to comment

Comments

I find it laughable that physicians object to clinics when so many of them use nurse practiciners and P As. Also, for years MDs have owned interest in pharmacies and insisted that their patients go to "their" pharmacy. Also bought stock in companies that made "Me Too" drugs and then wrote prescribtions for that drug and demanded that the pharmacies dispense "Their" drug. It seems a great deal like the pot calling the kettle black.

Regarding the AMA's contention that "retail clinics may not be providing adequate care"...I know for a fact that one of the largest retail-based clinics strictly adheres to currently accepted standards of care and is JCAHO accredited. I wonder how many physician(s) / physican practices can say the same.

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.

More information about formatting options

To combat spam, please enter the code in the image.